Flying-machine.



Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHKET l. E

INVENTOH ATTORNEYS E. J. CRAWFORD.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 1910.

WITNESSES. I

'E J. CRAWFORD.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 13150.28, 1910.

1,Q,941 Patented Oct. 17,1911,

' z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mummy ATTORNEYS with a safety device soas descent whichmlght 1n ure.vide auxiliary EDGAR JOHN CRAWFORD, OF-SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

FLYING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters l atent,"

v 1 Patented 001;. r7, 1911.

Application filed December 28, 1910. Serial N6. 599,737.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known "that I, EDGAR J. CRAWFORD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Seattle, in the county of King and State ofWashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFlying-'Machines, of which the following is a specifica ti on.

My invention flying machines,

relates to improvements in and it cons1sts in-the com- 5 l binations,constructions, and arrangements l herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a lighter-than-air machine whichis provided to prevent a rapid l the aviators. This safety device is inthe natureiof a para- 1 chute which may be shifted so as to sustain thefiying machine so that its descent will be gradual.

A further object of my invention is to prosustaining devices in theshape of wings with means for tilting them to cause the device to ascendor descend. l

A further. object of my provide means for ridding the heavier parts, incase an accident occurs, thereby insuring a safe descent.

A further-object of my invention. is to pro- Vide novel forms ofapparatus for accomplishing the objects specified above.

Other objects and advantages will appear invention is to l the airshipof 'in the following specification, and the novel l l l l features ofthe device will be particularly'l pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the acconr l panying drawings, formingpart of this application in'which Figure 1; is a side view of the flyingmal chine, Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionalong the line 3 3 1 (if Fig. 1, Fig. i is a section along the line}l-Ae of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a detailed view 1 showing the means fordisengaging the en- 1 gine from its support, Fig. 6 is a plan view ofthe supporting frame for the engine, Fig 7 is a detailed sectional viewshowing a portion of the parachu e lifting means in its nor position,and Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the lifting means in itsoperated position.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, I have shown therein a main frameconsisting of the bottom members 1, the top members 2, the uprights3,,and the brace rods i. In the upper part of this frame is a cigar,lass 21.

shaped gas bag or balloon 5. This balloon is designed to be filled withsome light gas, such ashydrogen, and is the main lifting and sustainingelement. Arranged to fit over the upper half of the balloon, andnormally in close contact with it, is'a parachute 6 of the shape shownin the drawings. This parachute has a frame 7 (see Figs. 7 and 8) aroundits lower edge which is arranged tor a lie immediately above the upperframe members 2 of the main frame. The frame 7 is arranged to be securedto the frame 2 by means of the hooks 8 on the frame 2 which engage thepins 9 and the frame 7 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In these figures itwill be seen that there are hollow cylinders 10 which project downwardlyfrom theframe members'2 and in which are carried spiral springs 11, theupper endsof which are secured to the frame 7. The purpose of thesesprings will be explained later. Toward the forward part of the machineare the side wings A and B. These wings are pivoted on the armsa and I)(see Fig. l) Each arm has projecting from it an upwardly extending bracemember such as b anda dmvnwardly ext-ending brace member 12 these braceniembcrs being connected with the wing proper by means of the inclinedbrace rods 7) shown in Fig. l. Secured to the rod 6 are the upper andlower arms 12 and 13, respectively. To the rod 12 is secured'an upperlink i l which extends rearwardly and connects with an arm 15 on therear elevating rudder 16. A lower link 17 extends fron'i the arm 13rearwardly and connects with the arm 1% on the elevating rudder 16.Secured also to the shaft or rod 7) are the arms 19 and 20 which areconnected by the respective chords l9 and 2O with the wind- The latteris manipulated.by the hand wheel Underneath the balloon proper at therein of the frame the rudder 23. As will be seen from Fig. $3, il'isrrudder is pivotedon a cross member 2-3; and provided with arms 23and 23'. The former is connected by means of the flexible chord to thefoot lever 26, while the arm is connected by a chord 27 to the footlever 28.

In Figs. 1 and 3 I have shown the engine at E. This engineis providedwith a friction disk 29, arranged to engage the fric' tion disks 30 and31. (see Fig. 3) upon the respective shafts 3 and 33. the former hearingthe propeller $4: and the latter the propeller 35, which turn inopposite direct-ions.

The mounting of the engine. is an important feature. Itv will be noticedthat there is a supporting frame 36 (see Fig. 6 having tongues 37 at thefour corners arranged to enter openings in one of the bottom members 1on one side and a slidable member 1 on the other. The slidable member 1is connected by the toggle joints 38 in such a manner that when thelatter ar'e'pnlled by means of the chord 39 the slidahle member 1 isioved outwardly thereby permitting the frame 36 and the engine E to dropclear of the machine, this being permitted by the frictional drive forthe shafts 32 and 253. In order to operatethc toggle joints 38, Iprovide the lever ll) to which the chord 39 is attached. A lever all isalso provided and to this lever is attached a chord l2 (seeFig, 1) whichruns under a pulley 43 (see Fig. 3) and thence upwardly and l connectswitl a chord 44 extending between the llOOkS 8 toward the front and rearends of the device.

*From the foregoing description of the va- I rious parts the device theoperation there- 'of may be readily understood. In order to addlightness to the device I provide a floor of netting 45. \Vhen all is inreadiness the engine is set going and' the prope lcrs, as stated,revolve in opposite directions and tend to propel the device forwardly.The band wheel is turnedso as to cause the wings A and B and the reartail or wing 16 to assume an inclined position, thereby clevalingthedevice, The device is steered to the right and to the left bymanipulating the foot levers or pedals 26 and The turning of the handwheel 22 in the opposite direction will cause the machine to descend. Itwill be seen that the wings A and 13, as well as the tail member 1.6,constitute sustaining as well as g uidin members. 4

in case of an emergency" such as the bursting or ripping of the gas bagwhich might cause the precipitous descent of the machine. the operatorcan pull the lever H. This will cause the hooks 8 to become j detaghcdfrom their pins 9 whereupon the springs 11 will pnsh'the parachute u'iwardly above the balloon, as indicated by dotted l lines in Fig". Theair can now get be I tween the parachute and the balloon andl acts as asustaining'mcdilun for the parathus privcnting the i'n'ccipitons chute,

downward movement of the balloon. In

case this should not be sufficient, the operamodifications as fairlyfall within the spiritand the scope of the invention.

l claim: i

1. In a flying machine, a ,QftlS bag, a frame therefor, a parachuteabove said gas bag and nlrmally in close contacttherewith,- a series ofsprings carried by said frame,

housin' s therefor said nin s being con U 7 k: K/

nected at one end to said parachute and being normally compressed withinsaid cas mas, and means carried upon said frame for releasing saidsprings and thereby project-- ing' said parachute away from said-gas 2.In a flying machine, a gas bag, a frame therefor, a 'iarachute' abovesaid gas bag and normally in close contact therewith, a series ofsprings carried by said frame,

housings therefor. saidsprings being connected at one end to saidparachute and being normally compressed within said casinn's, a seriesof hooks on said frame for holding said parachute and means carried bysaid frame and including a lever and flexible connectionsfrom said leverto said hooks for actuating the latter to release the springs therebycausing the projection of the parachute away from the gas bag.

- 2-3. In a flying machine, a gas bag, a main frame secured thereto,anengine carried by said frame, propellers connected with said enginefor driving the machine, and means for purl hitting the engine to dropfrom the main frame. meanscomprising a supporting frame. meansinclut'ling a slidable member for holding said supporting. l'rmuc inplace, tragic joint ('()llli((l((l-Will] said slidable member, and meansfor moving said toggle joint to causc'a movement of said slidable mcmhcraway from said suppr'irling frame.

EDGAR JUIIX lli-l'l UllD. lVitnesscs:

(Tins. li-z'rnovrrsur, .lonx Ji'nr.

